Sealing means



' s. SCHNLL Aug.l8, 1942. I

. -SEALING uwms Filed April 29, 1940 INVENTOR EVE SCHNELL ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 18, 1942 2,293,564 SEALING MEANS Steve Sehncll, Overland, Mo., assignor to Wagner Electric Corporation, SI:. Louis, Mo., a. corporation of Delaware Applcation April 29, 1940, Serial No. 332,213

6 Claims. (CL 309-33) My inventon relates to sealing means tor fluid means for cooperation with a groove to seal two relatively movable members, such as a piston and cylinder.

One of the objects of my invention is to produce an annular sealing element for positioning in a groove of a member to efiectvely and efficiently prevent fluid from passing between sad member and another member Wth which there is relative movement.

Another object of my nvention is to provide a sealing element of the type referred to which will not have its sealing effectiveness adversely afiected in event of swelling of the yeldable material caused by the action of fluid thereon.

Other objects of my invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connecton with the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of a pistn and cylnder combination having associated therewith sealing means embedying my inventon; Figure 2 is a. sectional view of the sealing element showing ts normal shape prior to being placed in postion in the groove of the piston; Figure 3 is a sectional view of a slightly difierent form of sea.ling element and Figure 4 is a sectional view showing this modified sealing element positioned on the piston.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the numera] I indicates a cylinder in which is recprocable a piston 2. This piston has associated therewith a member 3 which may be actuated by the piston if fluid under pressure is present. in the chamber 4 ahead of the piston 01 may be employed to actuate the piston to cause the fluid in said chamber to be placed under pressure. The piston is freely slidable in the cylinder there being a. slight -clearance for this purpose.

The piston ntermediate its ends is provided with an annular groove 5 havng forward and rear walls 6 and I respectvely which are shown as substantally perpendcular to the axis of the piston and a. bottom wall 8 which is preferably at a sli ght angle to the piston aXis as shown. My improved sealing element 9 for preventing fluid from escaping from the chamber 4 past the piston because of the normal clearance space is shown carred by this groove 5.

In accordance Wth my invention the sealng element is of annular shape and having a general U-shaped radial cross section, said element beng preferably made of a suitable yieldable material such as rubber, synthetc rubber or the like. The base porton IO of the element is of a radial thck- -form a good seal.

ness substantially equal to the depth of the groove adjacent the rear w-all I and has a flat surface II tor engagement; Wth said wall. This base portion has ntegrally formed therewith an outer annular extension or lip I2 and an inner annular extension I3, the former being adapted to engage with the wall of the cylinder and the latter with the bottom wall 8 of the groove. The forward end of the extension I3 carries an integral tapered lip I4 which extends in an outward radial directon and engages the forward wal1 6 of the groove.

The sealing element is normally moulded is shown in Figure 2. The outer extension of lip I2is fiared so that ts outer peripheral edge I5 is of greater dameter than the diameter of the cylinder. This edge is relatively sharp and when the sealing element is in position on the piston and the assembly placed in the cylinder the lip will be fiexed inwardly to thereby cause the edge to have pressure engagement Wth the cylinder to The pressure engagement will be increased When the fluid in the chamber 4 is under pressure since ths fluid is also in contact with the inner surface of the lip due to the clearance permitting fluid to freely pass the forward end of the piston.

The tapered lip Il on the end of the inner extension I3 is normally formed to extend forwardly as well as radially and the over-ah axial length of the sealing element from the forward edge I6 on the lip Il to the base surface II s made to be somewhat greater than' the axia1 distance between the two walls 6 and 1 of the groove. This is an important feature of my invention tor which the sealing element is mounted in the groove by stretching il; over the forward end of the piston the lip will be fiexed axially rearwa.rd and thus cause the edge I6 which is relatively sharp to have pressure engagement Wth wall 6. Thus a very efiective seal will be made at this point to prevent fluid from passing between the wall 6 and the lip and thus force its way around the sealng element by way of the bottom 8 of the groove. The pressure engagement of the lip Il With the wall 6 will be increased when the fluid is placed under pressure snce this fluid will act in an axial direction on the lip I4.

Wth my mproved sealing element no fluid can pass the piston. Both 1ips I 2 and I4 normally will have pressure engagement with the surfaces they contact and thus make a good seal even if the fluid in the -chamber is only under static head. When the fluid is placed under pressure the sealing efiect of the lips will be ncreased in proporton to the fluid pressure since the fluid pressure Will act on the Iips to force them into tight,engagement with the surfaces they contact. Another feature of mir improved sealing element is that ts sealing eflciency is not decreased byany swelling of the material of the element, in fact swelling will ncrease the sealing acton. If the rubber or other material swells, the axial length of the element Will increase and thus increase the pressure of the lip edge I 6 on the Wall 6. A simi- ]ar increased pressure will be present at the lip edge I if the base IO increases in a radial direction due to swelling. In prior -constructions Where the lip III was not present the swelling of the sealing element caused the extension I3 to increase in diameter and draw away from the bottom wall 8 thus permitting fluid when under static head to creep in between the extenson and the bottom wall and then around back of the base of the sealing element. With the sealing lp I 4 this condition cannot develop snce if the extension I3 increases in diameter the edge I6 still remains in pressure engagement With wa1l 6, and as pointed out this pressure increases due to simultaneous swelling in an axial direction.

In the sealing element I'I shown in Fgures 3 and 4 the general form is the same as that previously descrbed and simlar parts are designated by similar numerals. The end of the inher extension I3 instead of being normally provided With the 1ip Id s provided wth a beveled surface |8 to thus form a taped end havng a. relatively sharp edge I9. The over-all axial length of the element from the edge I 9 to the base surface II is somewhat greater than the distance between the walls 6 and I of the groove in the pston so that when the sealng element is positioned in the groove the tapered end of extension I3 Will be flexed rearvvardly and also outwardly so that the edge I9 will be in pressure engagement with the wall 6 of the groove as shown in Figure 4. Thus there will be an eiective sea1 formed and fluid under pressure can act on the tapered end to force it into tghter contact With the wall, Any axial lengthening of the seal due to swelling or the material Wll increase the pressure with whch the tapered end engages the wall. 'Ihe sealing element is placed in the groove by stretching it over the forward end of the piston.

Being aware of the possibility of modificatons in the particular structures herein described Wthout departing from the fundamental principles of my invention, I do not intend thai; its scope be limited except as set forth by the appended claims.

Havng fully described my nvention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a cylinder and piston capable of having relative movement, one of said elements being provided With :an annular groove in its surface the side wal1s of Whch are a fixed distance apart, and sealing means for cooperaton With the groove and the wall of the other element comprising an annular packing element of yeldable materal having a Ushaped radal cross section With one 1eg thereof lying adjacent the bottom surface of the groove, ts base portion engaging the rear wal1 of the groove and its other leg engaging the wall m" said other element, the axial length of the first narned 1eg and base portion beng normally greater than the fixed distance between the sde walls of the groove, and the end of sad leg being so ormed as to be readily flexible Wth respect to the 1eg and toward the base portion whereby when the-packing element s positoned in the groove the sad axial Iength will be shortened by the flexing of the end and thus causesaid end to have pressure engagement with the forward wall of the groove wthout any relative movement of the groove side Wa1ls.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a cy1inder and pston capable of havng relative movement, one of sad elements being provided with an annular groove in its surface the side walls of which are incapable of relative movement, and sealing means for cooperation with the groove and the wall of the other elementcomprsing an annular packing element of yieldable material having a U-shaped radial cross section wth one 1eg thereof lying adjacent the bottom surface of the groove, its base portion engaging the rear wall of the groove and its other 1eg engaging the wall of said other element, the end of said first named Ieg having a lip portion extending substantally radially outward with its forward peripheral edge in pressure engagement-with the forward wall of the groove as a result of the packng, element being so normally formed that the axial length from the said peripheral edge to the base surface is greater than the dstance between the fixed walls of the groove.

3. In apparatus of the class described, sealng means for associaton with a groove in a member the side wa1ls of which are incapable of relative movement, said sealing means comprsing an annular element of yieldable materal adapted to be stretched over said member and positioned in the groove and havng a general U- shaped radial cross section, the outer integral Ieg of said element extending forwardly and outwardly from the base portion and said inner integral leg extending forwardly and provided on its end With a tapered 1ip having a relatvely sharp forward peripheral edge, the axal lengthof the packing element from said forward edge to the rear surface of the base porton being greater than the fixed distance between the side wa1ls of the groove in Whch the base porton and the inner leg are adapted to be positioned.

4. In apparatus of the c1ass described, sealing means for association with a groove in a member the sde walls of which are incapable of relative movement, said sealing means comprising an annular element of yieldable material adapted to be stretched over said member and positioned in the groove and havng a general U-shaped radial cross section, the outer integral 1eg of said element extending forwardly and outwardly from the base portion and said inner integral leg extending forwardly and provided on ts ends with a substantial 1p extending outwardly from the axis and also forwardly from the base portion and having a relatively sharp forwar peripheral edge, the axal Iength of the packing element from said forward edge to the rear surface of the base portion being greater than the fixed dstance between the sde walls of the groove in which the base portion and the inner le are adapted to be positioned.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a cylinder, a pston reciprocable theren and provided with an annular groove between its ends the side wa1ls of whch are a fixed distance apart, and sealing means for cooperation Wth the cylinder Wall and the groove comprising an annular packing element of yieldable material having a U- shaped radal cross section Wth one leg thereof lying adjacent the bottom surface of the groove,

its base portion engaging the rear side wall 01 the groove and its other leg engaging the cylinder wall, the axial 1ength of the flrst named 1eg and base portion being normally formed so as to be greater than the fixed distance between the side wa.lls of the groove, and the end .of said Ieg beng tapered so that it is 'capable of being readily flexed rearwardly with respect to the leg whereby when the packing element is stretched over the piston and positioned in the groove without relative movement of the side wa1ls thereof the end edge of said tapered end will be caused to have pressure engagement with the said side wa11 as a result of flexing of said end. and a shortenng 01! said axial length.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable theren and provided with an annular groove between its ends, and sealing means for cooperation with the cylinder wall and the groove comprisng an annular packing element ci yieldable material having a U shaped radial cross secton with one leg thereof lying adjacent the bottom surface of the groove, its base portion engaging the rear side wa1l of the groove and its other 1eg engaging the cylinder wal1, the axial 1ength of the first named leg and base portion being normally formed so as to be greater than the fixed distance between the side walls of the groove and the end of said 1eg being so formed that it is capable ci beng flexed axially whereby when the packing element is stretched over the piston and positioned in the groove said axal length will be shortened and the end will be caused to have pressure engagement with the forward side wall as a. result of flexing of sad end relative to the leg and without relative movement of the side walls, and the diameter Of the outer end of the second leg belng normally formed greater than the diameter 015 the cylinder so that when the packing element and pston are postioned therein said end wll have pressure engagement with the cylinder wa1l.

STEVE' SCI-INELL. 

